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BumRushDaShow

(173,314 posts)
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 05:01 PM Friday

Trump unveils new Air Force One, a $400 million plane gifted by Qatar

Source: CBS News

Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 4:45 PM EDT / CBS News


Washington — President Trump on Friday unveiled the Boeing 747-8 that will serve as the new Air Force One, providing the first look at the $400 million luxury plane that the U.S. accepted as a gift from the Qatari government last year.

Mr. Trump descended the stairs from the hulking jet inside a hangar at Joint Base Andrews, the military post outside Washington that has served as the presidential airport for decades. He greeted Air Force officials and delivered remarks to a crowd of service members. "There will never be one like this. This is very unique. This is considered the world's most luxurious plane," the president said. "When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again."


President Trump speaks after touring the newly designated Air Force One presidential aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, June 19, 2026.
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta


Mr. Trump said the hangar in which he was speaking had to be specially constructed to house the new jet, which is much larger than the previous plane. He added later that the new version will lead a massive flyover of Washington on July 4, the nation's 250th birthday.

The Air Force said in a release that the aircraft will soon begin embarking on "commissioning flights," its "final exam" before it can be used to transport the president.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-force-one-new-plane-trump-qatar/

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump unveils new Air Force One, a $400 million plane gifted by Qatar (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Friday OP
Which US taxpayers' paid for................................ Lovie777 Friday #1
Trump calls it "Free Air Force One" because he gets to keep it. sop Friday #4
If Democrats win the presidency and Congress in 2028, I hope the invoke the emoluments clause for this. Lonestarblue Yesterday #23
Someone like Trump is the reason the Emoluments Clauses were written into the Constitution. sop Yesterday #25
Thank the do-nothing GOP Congress for this mdbl 22 hrs ago #34
At the very least, the next Democratic President should impound the plane, and require Trump to pay for it. patphil 22 hrs ago #35
The retro fit is said to be close to a BILLION$$,then it will have to be taken out Bengus81 14 min ago #40
I hope it flies right up his big fat butt. marble falls Friday #2
I prefer in the ground... Resistance1 Friday #18
I would not want him to die before he's been in jail. I want to see Congressional Committees look into this "gift". marble falls Friday #21
Dying would put an end to any official investigations; there has to be a full accounting of this man's crimes. sop Yesterday #26
There'd be plenty of room. SergeStorms Yesterday #24
thanks to Boeing and it's delays msongs Friday #3
Don't put the blame on Boeing-- TOFU IzzaNuDay Yesterday #22
"Boeing management that capitulated to Trump's demands." sounds like blame on boeing to me msongs 12 hrs ago #37
It's not a secure plane. Normal AF-1s are built for security *first*. Tim S Friday #5
It's akin to adding a sun roof to a car underpants Yesterday #28
The letter-spacing is terrible Auggie Friday #6
Agreed PJMcK Friday #14
Waste, fraud, abuse. Sneederbunk Friday #7
It's a 747-800 passenger version with a lavish interior. Thats all it is. Its not bigger than any other 747-8 Cheezoholic Friday #8
Imagine how many tacky gold gewgaws are in that "lavish interior." sop Yesterday #27
Qatar didn't want it because it's too big for many airports RainCaster 22 hrs ago #33
It looks like it can operate out of 26 US airports. Angleae 5 hrs ago #39
I noticed the billion conversion cost for the free 400 million $ bribe jet Submariner Friday #9
The very last paragraph at the OP link has this - BumRushDaShow Friday #10
If a Democrat wins the Presidency in 2028, Trump needs to be presented with a bill for all the work done on his plane. patphil Friday #11
Be A Shame If It Didn't Get The Kinks Out Yet. ColoringFool Friday #12
This is the POS going down those stairs! sheshe2 Friday #13
The timing his briliant! Not the best look following the Iran war fiasco. Martin68 Friday #15
The symbolism of this makes me sick to my stomach Politicub Friday #16
He sure is spending a lot of our money on Figarosmom Friday #17
This should never had been accepted. Resistance1 Friday #19
Does it have a Ball Room? Historic NY Friday #20
I suspect that there is a room inside that could be called that. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #29
Air Farts One. Put on your emergency mask in the event of fumes. twodogsbarking 23 hrs ago #30
Anyone offering squares on when it will be dragged into a hanger for an emergency procurement overhaul? EarthFirst 23 hrs ago #31
How much damage did Qatar get in the war? IronLionZion 23 hrs ago #32
AF1 my lily white azz Katcat 14 hrs ago #36
Spelled Farce wrong. truthisfreedom 9 hrs ago #38

Lonestarblue

(13,619 posts)
23. If Democrats win the presidency and Congress in 2028, I hope the invoke the emoluments clause for this.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:05 AM
Yesterday

That plane belongs to US taxpayers after all the work we paid for, and Trump should not be allowed to keep it. It was obviously a bribe.

sop

(19,791 posts)
25. Someone like Trump is the reason the Emoluments Clauses were written into the Constitution.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:28 AM
Yesterday

mdbl

(8,940 posts)
34. Thank the do-nothing GOP Congress for this
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 10:24 AM
22 hrs ago

Sen Jon Ossoff said it best -
"He (Trump) is a disgraced president, humiliated on the world stage by his failed war, raking in billions for himself and his family while making you pay more for gas, for groceries and for healthcare."

"And if you want to help defeat his trump-puppet opponent, its electjon.com"

patphil

(9,314 posts)
35. At the very least, the next Democratic President should impound the plane, and require Trump to pay for it.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 10:46 AM
22 hrs ago

$400 million in renovation costs, plus cost of removing equipment meant to support it as AF-!, plus maintenance and storage fees for his airplane.
I'd say $500 million would be a fair price for Trump to pay if he wants to get his gilded palace in the sky back.

Bengus81

(10,532 posts)
40. The retro fit is said to be close to a BILLION$$,then it will have to be taken out
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 08:45 AM
14 min ago

in two years for what...another BILLION$$. Uttter fucking BS...........

marble falls

(73,393 posts)
21. I would not want him to die before he's been in jail. I want to see Congressional Committees look into this "gift".
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 11:24 PM
Friday

sop

(19,791 posts)
26. Dying would put an end to any official investigations; there has to be a full accounting of this man's crimes.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:31 AM
Yesterday

SergeStorms

(21,026 posts)
24. There'd be plenty of room.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:24 AM
Yesterday

Perhaps he'd like to get one for Melanie as well, and both could be hangared in his galactic-sized ass.

IzzaNuDay

(1,364 posts)
22. Don't put the blame on Boeing-- TOFU
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 06:10 AM
Yesterday

At the time the replacement AF1 contract was up for negotiation, Boeing had the capacity to build the AF1 from scratch on its existing 747 assembly line. But Trump browbeat Boeing into buying two new, yet mothballed 747’s — built to be certified for commercial use. So Boeing has to now factor the price of stripping out the entire 747 interior, then rebuild to USAF certification. The two are not the same. On a firm fixed price contract.

If there are people to blame is Trump, and the Boeing management that capitulated to Trump’s demands. Boeing employees working this project got a raw deal.

msongs

(74,453 posts)
37. "Boeing management that capitulated to Trump's demands." sounds like blame on boeing to me
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 08:28 PM
12 hrs ago

Tim S

(360 posts)
5. It's not a secure plane. Normal AF-1s are built for security *first*.
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 05:30 PM
Friday

There’s no ability to spy on the occupants in a traditional aAF-1. And in case of war, no way to track it. They also have classified defensive systems in them to ensure it’s a rolling fortress in case of nuclear war. They are purpose-built and take years to make.

Trump’s gift is an off-the-rack plane which I assume was retro-fitted to be *like* an Air Force 1 in too short a time period. I think it’s vulnerable. I hope this is the plane Trump purloins when he’s out of office, because I don’t want my next Democratic President relying on it.

underpants

(197,711 posts)
28. It's akin to adding a sun roof to a car
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:59 AM
Yesterday

vs. the car being built WITH a sun roof. Adding anything post production never works as well.

Cheezoholic

(4,085 posts)
8. It's a 747-800 passenger version with a lavish interior. Thats all it is. Its not bigger than any other 747-8
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 06:55 PM
Friday

It is about 20 ft longer and the wingspan is about 25ft wider than the existing "AF1" which is a SPEACIALLY BUILT 747-200 for the Air Force which other posters have pointed out. The current "AF1" is a variant called a VC25. There are only 2 of these in the world. Everything this asshole says is BS. It aint bigger than any other 747-800 that usually has ATLAS or Kalita Air or UPS on the side because it takes a cargo aircraft with gold lining to carry him and his load of BS. The new VC25 AF1's (747-800's) are currently being specially built for the Air Force and will be completed by 2027-2029. Once again theses are military versions of the 747-800 and will be the only ones in the world. They will carry the VC25 version designation. They are truly flying fortresses that can fly for months if needed. This one he has can't. As a matter of fact the Air Force version designation of this waste of our money FOR HIM is a made up VC25B, standing for "Bridge" meaning its just a 747-800. Its no different than me slapping chrome wheels and new paint on my 92 Ford F150 pick up and saying its now an F150"B" until I can afford a new one (which is never, wouldn't want a new one anyway ).

Also Qatar is dumping this on him because they don't want it anymore. Some sources over a year ago said Qatar was about to sell it off to the highest bidder.

He's a failed real estate used car snaked tonged self absorbed fucking terrorist to this country and the entire world. I wouldn't get on that POS in that hangar EVER!

RainCaster

(13,942 posts)
33. Qatar didn't want it because it's too big for many airports
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 10:13 AM
22 hrs ago

I bet this won't even be able to land at the airport with his name.

It's oversized and unable to land at most international airports.

Angleae

(4,826 posts)
39. It looks like it can operate out of 26 US airports.
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 03:45 AM
5 hrs ago

ANC - Anchorage International Airport
ATL - Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport
BOS - Boston Logan International Airport
BQN - Rafael Hernandez Airport, Puerto Rico
CVG - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
DEN - Denver International Airport
DFW - Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport
DTW - Detroit Metro International Airport
EWR - Newark International Airport, New Jersey
GSP - Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, South Carolina
HNL - Honolulu International Airport
HSV - Huntsville International Airport, Alabama
IAD - Washington Dulles International Airport
IAH - Houston Intercontinental Airport, Texas
IND - Indianapolis International Airport
JFK - John F. Kennedy International Airport
LAX - Los Angeles International Airport
LCK - Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio
MCO - Orlando International Airport
MIA - Miami International Airport
ORD - Chicago O'Hare International Airport
PDX - Portland International Airport, Oregon
RFD - Rockford/Chicago International Airport
SEA - Seattle Tacoma International Airport
SFO - San Francisco International Airport
TOL - Toledo Express Airport, Ohio

https://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/nla_mos

unknown about foreign or military airports

Submariner

(13,482 posts)
9. I noticed the billion conversion cost for the free 400 million $ bribe jet
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 06:59 PM
Friday

that the taxpayer has to pay for wasn't mentioned in the story. Must have been an accidental oversight.

BumRushDaShow

(173,314 posts)
10. The very last paragraph at the OP link has this -
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 07:11 PM
Friday
Retrofitting the aircraft for the presidential fleet was also expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The secretary of the Air Force told a House panel last year that the price tag for retrofitting would be "probably less than $400 million."


But we know they always lowball.

patphil

(9,314 posts)
11. If a Democrat wins the Presidency in 2028, Trump needs to be presented with a bill for all the work done on his plane.
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 07:16 PM
Friday

Also, all the work that will have to be done to take any sensitive equipment out of it, and also the cost of storing, and maintaining his aircraft for all the years it was on a US base.
If he wants to call it his, then he's going to have to pay for it. If not, it's still Air Force 1, and Trump has no claim over it.

Figarosmom

(14,542 posts)
17. He sure is spending a lot of our money on
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 10:45 PM
Friday

Himself. I sure hope this plane isn't a Trojan horse and he doesn't become the fire works on the 4th of July. With the caliber of his crew ( FBI, CIA, SS. etc.)I'm sure that plane wasn't searched very well.

Resistance1

(176 posts)
19. This should never had been accepted.
Fri Jun 19, 2026, 11:04 PM
Friday

The U.S. Constitution prohibits federal officials from accepting foreign gifts without congressional consent. Period. But Obama wore a tan suit

EarthFirst

(4,257 posts)
31. Anyone offering squares on when it will be dragged into a hanger for an emergency procurement overhaul?
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 09:45 AM
23 hrs ago

If September 20th is available; my $5 is on that date…

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